News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

The husband of a County Down woman who died from bowel cancer a fortnight ago says the health authorities must roll out the screening program across NI "as quickly as possible". Rosie Kirker Miller, who was from Bangor, was 46 when she died. Her husband Martin said early detection could have saved her life. He said he wished the health authorities "would just hurry up" with the screening program. "I lost my wife two weeks ago and she had spent weeks and months in agony," he said. "It's not something you want to see - believe me. "The last fortnight has been a mixture of grief and disbelief. "We all miss her so much."
(Source: BBC News)

Dublin

The family of an Irishman missing in Holland believe his body may have been mangled by a tourist boat in a canal. A sister of missing man, Paul Nolan Miralles (36), originally from Clonsilla, Co Dublin, last week said his family had formally identified a shredded jacket, T-shirt and bag retrieved by Amsterdam police from the city's canal. Anne Ravanona said police also recovered a body part -- believed to be part of a person's shoulder -- from the canal which was being DNA analyzed. "It will take a couple of days to be 100pc certain," Ms Ravanona, a Paris-based management training expert, said.
(Source: The Irish Independent)

Fermanagh

Another 11 law firms in Co Fermanagh are to stop work on serious criminal cases as part of an escalating dispute over legal aid fees. The development emerged as solicitors for four men returned for trial on charges connected with a major cannabis factory in Belfast came "off record". One of the legal representatives said the stand-off was now being rolled out. The heightening row is over new legal aid rules introduced by Justice Minister David Ford. Fees to solicitors have been reduced by 25% under changes in legal aid for Crown Court proceedings, while barristers rates will also drop by 20%.
(Source: BBC News)

Galway

The parents of a four months old baby girl from Rahoon who has a life-threatening illness are desperately hoping she can get the liver transplant she needs to survive. Little Ieva Zukaskaute has already had two unsuccessful operations for Biliary atresia, an illness which is a blockage in the tubes (ducts) that carry liquid called bile from the liver to the gallbladder. The condition is congenital, which means it is present from birth and was only noticed on baby Ieva when, at six weeks, she was still very jaundiced. Baby Ieva’s illness is at an advanced stage and if not treated by specialists at Kings College Hospital in London, she could die within six months.
(Source: GalwayBay Fm)

Kerry

A man has appeared in court in relation to the alleged publication of racist material on the social networking site, Facebook. Patrick Kissane (27), of Killarney, Co Kerry, is accused of actions likely to stir up hatred on December 1, 2009. Judge James O'Connor adjourned the matter at Killarney District Court until July. Inspector Martin McCarthy requested the case be adjourned to get the views of the Director for Public Prosecutions because of the unusual nature of the case. It relates to the setting up of an anti-Traveler (gypsy) Facebook page called 'Promote the use of knacker babies as bait'. The site is understood to have attracted 664 fans before it was removed by Facebook last July following a number of complaints.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Kildare

The suicide of teen Devlin Kavanagh in State care shows how the voice of the child was "stifled" by bureaucracy, children's rights campaigners have said. Devlin Kavanagh (14), from Castledermot, Co Kildare, hanged himself just a few miles from his home on December 5, 2006. The teen died after he was told he would have to return to the Ballydowd secure care home in west Dublin. He previously told his mother that he would kill himself if this happened. Devlin's mother Orla Kavanagh Doyle and her husband Mark believe that if their son had received the correct support, he may have been saved.
(Source: The Herald.ie)

Kilkenny

Gardai (police) have ruled out the possibility of foul play after the body of a man was found in his home in the city centre Thursday morning. The man, who was in his early sixties is believed to be originally from England and was living in the city for a number of months. His body was believed to have been at his home for a number of days before being discovered. Gardai have confirmed that they are not treating the death as suspicious.
(Source: Kilkenny People)

Laois

The first major retail opening of the new extension to Laois Shopping Centre is finally ready to open albeit two years later than originally planned. The first phase of the redevelopment opened last year with the underground car park but now Tesco Extra Store will open it’s doors next Tuesday, April 26. The new store will be on of the largest stores in the country and will be triple the size of their existing shop The expansion has also created 93 new jobs in the town, bringing the number of people in employed in Tesco Portlaoise to over 250. The store will trade 24hours a day, 7 days a week.
(Source: Leinster Express)